Pakistan (Egypt) Un(Changed)

For the last 8 days, my routine is to go home and stick to BBC to watch uprising in Egypt. It is the country in which I spent good 4 months i.e. July – November in 2010 only.

When I was leaving Cairo two months back, I had all the plans to re-visit the city. Not only for the people I have befriended there but the place itself is lovely. Cairo is indeed one of the best combinations where you have the civilization meeting modernization. It is hard to believe that Cairo, the city that never sleeps, now doesn’t stop burning.
During my stay there, I had to come in terms that any Egyptian I meet will not be happy with Mubarak’s regime and want to leave the country soonest. Also, I learned that do not discuss politics or be opinionated in public places. You may discuss anything but do not touch politics as you don’t know where and who is Mubarak’s man.

A very close Egyptian friend used to curse the dictatorship and had various stories from here and there that how this regime is eating his country. In response, all I used to tell him that not all the dictators are like that. To which he always agreed and said, ‘Pakistan may be the only country that flourished in every mean after 1999 military takeover’.
Egypt’s uprising has also risen a concern in Pakistan if we ever going to witness such change. I plainly say, no. Change comes to those who feel the need for it and ready to accept it.

Pakistan is the nation which is divided in the name of sects, language, ethnicity and what not. A divided nation can never witness a revolution or change; we always witness a takeover. On the streets of Cairo, people from all classes and backgrounds are claiming their rights. Moreover, Egyptians living abroad are also supporting their people.

Do Pakistanis have the courage to leave their comfort zone and come on the streets?

Every day, there are not less than 2 rape or abuse cases are reported in media. Food and health necessities are either missing from the sight or being sold at the highest price. Thousands of employees are getting sacked and industries shut down for months now. To all this, the nation reciprocates by becoming criminals.

The frustration of all the above is either taken out by raping a 2-year-old or by killing your own family.

We are definitely heading towards a change; a change in morals and values. We all literate people can do only yap, yap on talk shows, curse politicians, blame feudalism, abuse government, but we will never step out of our houses.

Pakistanis cannot bring the change, let alone be the change.



P.S. I too am a Pakistani.

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Capturing Cairo

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Spilling Beans

Coffee, which was my once a week ritual, has become a deadly addiction.

I always avoided addictions; for me it’s too much of dependency. But on this trip, it seems whatever I have avoided in past is unavoidable.


I avoided past, but it rose randomly.
I avoided strangers; they catch me accidently.
I avoided clashes with core; it costs me deadly.
I avoided face behind a face; I now, know them surprisingly.
I avoided you, but you are getting closer to me.


Above all, I avoided life.
Its happening to me daily !!!


Cairo is not (may be) my cup of coffee :)

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Ramadan Kareem

This Ramadan, am thankful that GOD has given me the liberty to choose and criticize

Photo Courtesy: Jeddah Photo Journal

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Al - Hussain Mosque

Al-Hussain Mosque, Cairo. It is situated right in the center of ancient Khan Bazaar dated back to 1154. 

It is believed that head of Imam Hussain A.S. was brought here after the martyrdom but returned by Fatamid Caliphs. Much later, it was found out that Fatamid Caliphs are also buried here. Government has closed down the museum which has a large range of Relics of Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H and Bibi Fatima Zehra A.S. 

Also, the oldest complete manuscript of Quran is present at this site.


Courtesy: Me :)

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Ein Al Sokhna, Cairo

Porto Sokhna

Lets make our way to serenity

Point-Break

Guide Point for Suez Ships

Jhilmilati Huee Shaam Kay Dorahay Per...........

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Soccer can be sour !!!

Countries have border conflicts, political conflicts, military conflicts, resource conflicts but who can have a soccer conflict?

Egypt has it.


Before coming to Cairo, I thought country is at cross with Israel only. But I was so wrong. They are extremely sour when it comes to Algeria after facing bloody defeat at FIFA 2010 qualifying matches. The best soccer team of Africa kicked out by Algeria in one of the most combative matches.


Algeria played simple to get even with Egypt after 20 years. Algerians had their taste of defeat from Egypt, when they were left behind in FIFA 1990.


Egyptians took it very seriously. Let’s say to their hearts that it’s still bleeding.

Algerians are not very welcomed here and gets racist remarks openly, be it at work or at a mall. The minute a person says he is an Algerian; you got to look at others’ face expression or reaction. Egyptian put them aside like aliens while Algerians play it pretty cool. After all, they got what they wanted; a victory.



Few days back, I asked an Egyptian colleague that why fuss over such small matter. To which she replied, “You know, we helped Algeria in gaining independence. They shouldn’t have been so rude to us.” Now this obviously doesn’t make sense to me. I mean what the heck?


Afterwards, I asked an Algerian what he thinks about the comment made above. I also added that Egypt, indeed, helped Algeria. But he thinks, Algeria has been helping too, for instance it is providing Gas to them. With an annoying look, he claimed “You know the burner on which you cook? We provide the gas for it.” For a minute I was thankful to Algeria because I certainly don’t want to deprive myself from Pakistani food in Cairo.

Anyways, I guess we Pakistanis and Indians have bigger hearts. After 3 wars and various cricket defeats, we still manage to eat and laugh together. In an alien land, we cherish each other.


Aren’t we great?

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Short on thought !!

Every morning, the last dab of lip color remind her of the tasteless touch she had with him but still no harm to look good. While putting up her lip color and making a peach outline, she suddenly remembered that it’s her turn today for the cab. After finishing the only make up she does, she checked her wallet and found that she carries no change. She hushed the thought by deciding to give the larger note to cabby, hence, nothing to worry.

It is hardly a 5 minute walk from their houses to meet at the intersection and get a cab to work. Without fail, after morning greetings, they have been telling each other how sleepless they have become after moving to this new place. He avoids looking at her completely, not in ignorance, but in an order to resist the temptation of keep looking at her long beautiful hair. This gives her an absolute chance to admire his cuteness. Things and time doesn’t seem to support the idea, still she wishes to tell him someday the curves she makes on his face, put her into century long commitments. She has not gathered the courage yet to admire any of his things. The fear of encouragement on his part impedes her need to admire him in words.

Waving at a cab, he ensures to stop the one she prefers to sit, metered one and sits only after she has made her place at the seat on his back.

She whispered in his ear, “I don’t happen to have change. So will give 20 bucks and I will get the change too”. He nodded his head in negative and said, “No need, I am carrying it”. She ignored him by taking out the note and passing it beside his freshly shaved cheek. Only she knows how hard it was not to feel them.
He asked her firmly to keep it back and put an end to whispering bickering. It was offending for her since he has paid 2 days in a row. Today, for a change, he asked the cabby to take the left turn and stopped at the corner instead of making her cross the road. Earlier, she used to wonder why does he make the cab stop much before office, but now that wondering is wandering else where. She flips over the small walks they make together.

Coming out of the cab, she folded her hands on her chest and made an expression of disapproval. He turned around her saying, “It’s all right” and both started walking. She made a comment in her fastest speaking manner, “You always do what you want to do and then listen to me. It is so hard to convince you”. He smiled and replied, “It’s early in the morning, and we both know no cabby keeps the change this time”. He made sense but she didn’t say it, instead she said “We could have tried.” He continued, while making a way for her between puddles and leaves laden trees, “I always think well before doing anything. I plan beforehand and look at every aspect properly”.

His statement made her slow down her pace and looked at him over his shoulder. Few nights back, what was he thinking when making the move? Back then he told her, that it is an unplanned desire, but now? She so wanted him to stop and answer her, only if she could merge her imagination and words together to ask him all this.

Standing at the crossroads of her thoughts, she is again losing the faith in her judgment and fate. Being a woman, she masters the art of imagination and has dived into it with him, without his knowledge, many a times since that tasteless touch.

Climbing up the stairs, she told herself, that only time and intentions will clarify the fog in her mind, to decide if it was a moment or a mistake. Till then, she has decided to keep change money always.

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(FUN) Fact Sheet --- > Cairo, Egypt

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With in 24 hours of my landing in Egyptian capital, I learned that……




1. Egyptian women doesn’t really know how to handle kids. Leave them to cry so others can have free headache.


2. They are super-busted.


3. Extremes are found among women. From knee-length skirt to full head scarf. Just at the breakfast today, I saw a woman with her whole face covered with thick black veil. She was eating her breakfast as per the instructions of her husband. I pity her.


4. Egyptians have no sense of queuing. I literally fought for my turn at immigration counter.


5. Egyptian men love crew cut or stay bald. It suits them in my opinion. Cool.


6. Small girls can be found tying various ponytails(Note: ponytails not braids). Its done very neatly. I have to admit african reagion is too good at hair styling.


7. They love wasting time.


8. One is required to smile and ask for their well being even if you meet 5 times a day.


9. Women know beautiful ways of wearing headscarves.


10. It doesn’t really matter if it’s a Muslim country, one has to survive on toilet roll.

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